Growing Herbs: Tips, Ideas and Ways for a Healthy Life

Herbs are plants that people have been using for ages now because of their magical effects. Growing herbs is a tradition that has been followed by every generation. The word herb is derived from a Latin word Herba which means grass, green stalks or blades.

When the herbs are still young, their stem is juicy, but it becomes hard as the herbs become old. They are mostly perennial and annual in nature. Perennial herbs are the plants whose upper part perishes when they are old but the roots remain alive which help them to grow again, whereas annual herbs are the ones that are limited for one season and are raised from its seed each year.

Herbs have amazing medical, culinary and sometimes spiritual properties, which make them an important ingredient in our everyday living. In some parts, there is a tradition of growing herbs to help in curing many diseases. When used with caution by experts who have proper knowledge of herbs, they can fight against many physical and mental problems, like stress, skin diseases, health problems, depression, etc.

What is the procedure for growing herbs?

Botanists cultivate herbs to make novel researches for the betterment of mankind, whereas some people grow them in their homes to be used as fresh or dried ingredients to add flavor to their food. Growing herbs is really inexpensive and an easy procedure. You do not need a huge land and money to grow them.

You can grow them in pots and containers which can be kept easily in any corner or windowsill of the house, which also in turn can enhance the beauty of your house. If the soil is of an excellent quality and there is adequate sunlight available, they can grow even with a little care. In many gardens, gardeners make bed patters to raise herbs. The seeds for growing herbs are conveniently available. Thyme, parsley, lemon balm, chives, basil, mint, oregano, cilantro are examples of some herbs that can be grown in the garden.

One important thing to be considered before growing herbs is the quality of the soil. Though many herbs grow in any kind of soil, improving its texture and fertility will help in the effortless growing of the herbs. Many techniques are adopted by gardeners to increase the fertility of the soil. First, you may send a sample of the soil to a laboratory designed and engaged in soil improvement program to know its nutrient level. The laboratory will be able to provide an insight about the nutrients that are missing in the soil and provide proper guidelines to increase their levels.

The soil nutrient deficiencies can be reduced by using organic and inorganic matter too. Organic matter which includes straw, hay, grass clippings, corncobs, sawdust, your own compost compile or manure can act as a fertilizer for the soil. On the other hand, inorganic matter is also readily available in the market which has a combination of different nutrients in them.